Koh Phangan Information

Travel & Local Information Guide for Koh Phangan

For your information:
the paradise island of Koh Phangan located in the Gulf of Thailand in Surat Thani province approx 70 km from the mainland and in 15 km from Samui. Taking fifth place in the list of the largest Islands of the Kingdom, Koh Phangan's area is 125 square kilometers where more than 70% is mountains and tropical forests, the remaining 30% of the beaches and coconut plantations.
It is part of the Samui Archipelago of more than 40 Islands. The highest mountain peak on the island is Khao Ra, which rises up to a height of 627m and is on the northern side of Koh Phangan. Koh Phangan enjoys a warm climate around the year, but the best time for a visit is from December to March or June to September when the water is high, clean, and good for swimming and diving.

Koh Phangan is a district (Amphoe) of Surat Thani Province and the island's capital and the main sea port is Thong Sala.
Koh Phangan is linked with the rest of the world by the ferry services, waiting for the completion of construction of the first airport on the island. About 12,000 people live on Koh Phangan. Some are Chinese, whose ancestors migrated from China more than two hundred years ago. Standard Thai is used as the official language but the southern dialect is more widely spoken among the local people. English is understood in business circles and tourist areas. More than 96% of the population are Buddhist but there are few Muslims in Ban Tai village. Historically, the island's economy has been based around subsistence agriculture with coconuts as the main product. Each month Koh Samui and Koh Phangan produce more than 1 million coconuts export to Bangkok. Others industries are fishing and tourism business.

The world renowned Full Moon Party is a monthly dance music festival set on Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise) Beach scheduled every month at full moon. The event primarily features a popular genres of electronic music and attracts up to 30,000 party-goers in Christmas and New Year Eve.

With a some of the most stunning beaches in the South Thailand, most of which are still only moderately developed, Koh Phangan has a big choice of hotels that cater to all travelers, from budget bungalows to 5 star resorts popular with honeymooners and families with children. Koh Phangan island has great potential for water sport and activity, and also for those who looking to get away from it all, study meditation or yoga, or engage in other holistic, Ayurvedic or health oriented programs.

How to Get to Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan Airport

Transfers between Bangkok and Koh Phangan by bus and boat via Chumpon are available by Seatran ferry and Lomprayah Catamaran. Koh Phangan is most easily accessd via Koh Samui Airport though it is slightly cheaper to fly via Suratthani.

Koh Phangan Airport will be the island's first airport and getting to Koh Phangan will be a lot easier once the home of the world-renowned full-moon party is directly connected by air. Construction for the first airport in Koh Phangan is now fully underway...

There are around 15 flights a day from Bangkok to Samui. An other way to fly to Surat Thani with Nok Air or Air Asia. It has a package from Don Maung airport to Surat Thani airport then air-cond bus to Don Sak pier where you will be transfer.

There is an efficient train service from Bangkok to the South of Thailand. The overnight sleeper trains are the best way to go. All trains stop in Chumphon and Suratthani, where you will be provided with a connecting bus to the ferry pier.

Tour operators in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and many other major tourist destination will sell you an all in one ticket including a bus and ferry to Koh Phangan. The bus is an overnight bus and starts from Bangkok...

There is few ferry companies doing the daily transfers between Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan or the mainland. If you are coming during the full moon period, it is safer to book your boat ticket in advance. Boat Schedule There are many boats...

Pick-up trucks and Motorbikes are the easiest and most common way of getting around Koh Phangan. You can also use a Long Tail Boat service to travel from one beach to an other especially on Koh Phangan east coast...

To rent a motorbike on Koh Phangan very easy, and you can hire motorbikes, scootres or big motorcycle at any beach of the island. You can find this rental-shops near hotels, resorts, restaurants, travel agencies, bars and markets with scooters lined up out

History of Koh Phangan marked by the important historical facts including visits of Thai Kings, the arrival of the first settlers to the island, the discovery of the bronze age finds and of course the first Full Moon Party due to Koh Phangan today is known around

Due to its proximity to the equator, Koh Phangan has a tropical monsoon climate with an average temperature of 25° - 34° C. Humidity is high and the weather is generally good year round, and the one thing you will rarely feel is cold.

Our interactive detailed Koh Phangan Map showing all hotels with guest's reviews, their exact location on the island, as well as the surrounding roads, restaurants, bars, attractions and useful landmarks. Koh Phangan Maps is the fastest way to a choice of your vacation spot...

Koh Phangan First Time

It’s your first time to Koh Phangan? In fact, there are several reasons why you must visit Koh Phangan. Even though the island itself is not too big, travelers can always find their own niche here. In my opinion, you should definitely visit the island, if you are one of the following:

- budget traveler to see more, for less money. In this case, Koh Phangan has to offer you a good vacation for a ridiculous price compared to other Islands in southern Thailand. Under best value, I mean - accommodation, restaurants, bars and the chanse to meet people just like you – young, curious and romantic.

- avid party-goer, who is never in a bad mood. For your information: Koh Phangan is widely known by The Full Moon Party and Music Festivals. They are held every month, and most of them take place on the South-Eastern coast of the island, and
attract thousands of revellers from over the world. Try to tell someone in Thailand or outside that you have visited Koh Phangan during the Full Moon music festival - you will raise your credibility in the eyes of their new friends, as the best partier.

- if you can't stay without comfort. A large number of Phangan's hotels and resorts with Spa offer all kinds of accomodation and facilities, the quality of which will not disappoint even the most demanding traveler. More and more hotels are being equipped with the latest technology, and the local restaurants serves food from almost all the corners of the world. A menu of most restaurants of Koh Phangan caters to the tastes of between Thai and Western cuisine.

- If you are traveling with children – Koh Phangan is the great family holiday destination. The island boasts a variety of kids friendly hotels with comfortable air-conditioned rooms. Its clean and shallow beaches are perfect for active pastime, during which your children will feel more than happy. Among the activities: boat trips, snorkeling, crocodiles and snakes shows, outdoor adventures, elephant riding and much more. Never has the phrase ‘vacation for all the family’ rung so true!